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After a nearly year and a half-long wait, the NLRB National Board of Directors finally ruled on Northwestern University's appeal of an NLRB Regional Director's decision that granted Northwestern players the right to unionize. The National Board declined jurisdiction and denied Northwestern players' petition to unionize.
However, the ruling wasn't necessarily an absolute reversal. Here's how some on twitter reacted to and analyzed the decision:
NLRB says that even if college athletes are employees (still very strong evidence), they are not taking jurisdiction. DID NOT rule against
— Kain Colter (@KainColter_2) August 17, 2015
NLRB declining to recognize Northwestern as employees doesn't end the debate since NLRB didn't rule on the merits of the players' arguments.
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) August 17, 2015
Whether college athletes are employees & whether they can unionize will be Qs answered differently by individual states at different times.
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) August 17, 2015
Basically, after a year-and-a-half, the board said ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ http://t.co/yoalf2Dx0x pic.twitter.com/S1Ha3verTk
— Kevin Trahan (@k_trahan) August 17, 2015
For those asking, I think NU players are still technically employees who can't unionize. But other private schools wouldn't be certified.
— Kevin Trahan (@k_trahan) August 17, 2015
"...the prospect of union and non-union teams could throw off the competitive balance in college football." Wow. http://t.co/Lp2KqRDxyj
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) August 17, 2015
A federal agency a) thinks there's competitive balance in college sports, and b) *cares* that there's competitive balance in college sports.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) August 17, 2015
I legit didn't know that the NLRB could say "we don't want to decide who is right." You're a national board! Pick a side! But I digress …
— Kevin Trahan (@k_trahan) August 17, 2015
National board seemed to look at situation in context of nat'l competition, while regional branch ruled in a vacuum. https://t.co/BOV5sK8Ygk
— Josh Rosenblat (@JMRosenblat) August 17, 2015
At first glance, it's a cop out from @NLRB nat'l office. Basically a non-ruling that somehow overturns the 1st one. https://t.co/xpVHdtgMMA
— Randy Scott (@RandyScottESPN) August 17, 2015
@RandyScottESPN @NLRB Agree. Never weighed in on employees' issue and used private school-public school imbalance in FBS/B1G as way out.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 17, 2015
Ding, ding, ding. The can has been kicked down the road. Need a public school to step up and fight this fight. https://t.co/ttcgkziZT2
— Randy Scott (@RandyScottESPN) August 17, 2015
NLRB notes its decision related to fact it has no control over state schools (108 of 125 FBS). Northwestern only private school in Big Ten.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 17, 2015
Despite union bid failing, @KainColter_2 will go down as a pioneer for players' rights. Landscape has transformed since he started the push.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 17, 2015
this is a win for Northwestern, which won't have to take the case to court. but the door is still open for other schools, it seems
— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) August 17, 2015
NU players, at least those who voted, were never really going to unionize. The importance in a decision was for other private schools.
— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) August 17, 2015
The other 16 private DI football schools (Stanford, ND, Duke etc.) just breathed a huge sigh of relief. Union issue won't bother them now.
— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) August 17, 2015
Kain Colter could really be a sort of "college sports Curt Flood." Lost his case but opened the door for someone else to break through.
— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) August 17, 2015
More union movements could be coming. Per @USWPolitical: "The Northwestern players weren’t the only players out there looking to organize."
— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) August 17, 2015
Northwestern union-backer @USWPolitical on today's ruling: "It looks like the NLRB tried to hit the snooze button on this one."
— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) August 17, 2015
Tim Waters from United Steelworkers said USW will "without question" be involved in future similar cases relating to college sports.
— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) August 17, 2015